Method of and means for joining soft-metal pipes



(No Model.)

J. O. LEWIS. METHOD OF AND MEANS P011 JOINING SOFT METAL PIPES.

No. 592,991. Patented Nov. 2,1897

JIEI en Lazz UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

JOHN C. LEWIS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

METHdD OF AND MEANS FO R JOlNlNG SOFT-METAL PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,991, dated November 2, 1897.

Application filed March 8, 1897. $erial No. 626,498. (No model.)

To all? whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN G. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods of and Means for Joining Soft-Metal Pipes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a method of and means for forming secure joints in soft-metal pipes, such as lead, and has for its object to produce an effective, inexpensive, and neat joint without the employment of solder or similar fusible substance.

My invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is a view of a fragment of a softmetal pipe with a fusing-sleeveapplied thereto. Fig. II is a similar View to Fig. I, showing the central portion of one of the fusingsleeve sections broken out. Fig. III illus trates a longitudinal section taken on line III III, Fig. I. Fig. IV is a sectional View showing a T connection. Fig. V illustrates a transverse section taken on line V V, Fig. IV. Fig. VI is a perspective View of a suitable clamp for holding the fusing-sleeve in position.

In the drawings, 1 1 designate two sections of a soft-metal pipe separated at the line 2. Each section of pipe is provided with the channel 3, as usual, and for a short distance into each section the channel 8 is reamed out to enlarge it. Into the reamed-out portions of the pipe-sections is inserted a tube a, that extends across their juncture and provides a connection.

5 5 designate the sections of a fusing-sleeve of hard metal, such as iron. This sleeve is divided into its two sections on a longitudinally-extending central line, and the two sections are placed upon the soft-metal pipe at the juncture of the sections to be united, and in such position held in place by a clamp or clamps of any suitable description,'such as that shown in Fig. VI. In one of the fusingsleeve sections is a sight-opening (3.

In connecting the separated ends of two pipe-sections I first ream the ends of the sections to enlarge the interionchannels and then insert therein the tube 4, the opening through which is the same in diameter as the channel of. the pipe. The tube 4 may be inserted without reaming the soft-metal pipe, but I prefer to ream it, as stated, for the purpose of permitting the employment of a tube 4 having an opening of the same diameter as the channel of the pipe, which would not be the result in the use of a tube inserted without increasing the channel of the pipe to receive the tube. Another advantage in providing the reamed-out portion of the pipes is that shoulders are formed at the inner ends of the reamed-out portions that limit the insertion of the tube too great a distance into either section of the pipe.

When the tube 4. has been placed in position, the pipe-sections 1 l are brought together with their ends abutting. The fusing-sleeve sections are then placed against the pipe in the manner shown and entirely encircling the pipe, said sleeve being firmly held together by the application of any suitable form of clamp or clamps. Heat is next applied to the fusing-sleeve by placing a torch, such as employed by plumbers, or any other suitable device, and the soft metal of the pipes is caused to fuse at the ends of the pipe-sections and flowing into a compact mass unites the pi pe-sections into a continuous pipe, in which action the tube 4 prevents the melted metal from flowing into the channel of the pipe. The opening 6 provides for insight to determine when the soft metal has fused and run together.

In the employment of my improved method and means for joining soft-metal pipes connections of any description may be accomplished-such as cross connections, angle, curves, Ts, faucet, or any other form of connection usual to the art of plumbing.

In Fig. IV, I have shown a T connection in which the tube partakes of the form of the connection, the side arm 4 of which extends into the pipe-section l and is surrounded by the arm 5 on one of the fusingsleeve sections. At the opposite side of the tube is a screw-threaded arm a ,designed to receive the neck of a cock or faucet.

I claim as my invention- 1. The method of joining s0ftmetal pipes herein described, consisting in inserting a tube in the channels of abutting sections of pipe, then applying to the exterior of said abutting sections a longitudinallydivided fusing-sleeve, and then applying heat to said sleeve to fuse and cause the pipe-sections to unite, substantially as set forth.

2. The method of joining soft-metal pipes herein described, consisting in taking the abutting sections of pipe, reaming out the ends of the channels thereof, fitting a connecting-tube therein, then applying a longitudinally-divided fusing-sleeve to the exterior of said abutting sections, and then applying heat to said sleeve to fuse and cause the pipesections to unite; substantially as set forth.

3. The means for joining soft-metal pipes,

1 comprising-a tube inserted in the channels of abutting sections of pipe, and a sectional fusing-sleeve having a sight-opening and applied to the exterior of said pipe, to which heat is applied for the purpose of fusing said pipe;

substantially as set forth.

JOHN C. LEWIS.

In presence of E. S. KNIGHT, STANLEY STONER. 

